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Security & Identification

Technology Examples Automotive (LC)

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Technology examples: Automotive

Security and identification technology like RFID or authentication is found in many markets and application examples. Click through those related segments to learn more:

 

Car sharing

A simple small RFID tag, which is integrated in a sticker on the user's driving licence, opens the reserved vehicle for users of a car sharing scheme

Car sharing clubs send their members RFID cards or key fobs when they join.To open the door of a reserved car, a member holds the RFID card or fob up to a small dashboard-mounted computer containing an RFID reader. The interrogator collects the member's ID, encoded to the RFID tag inside the card or fob, by reading it through the car's windshield. The computer then transmits the number, via a cellular phone network, to a reservations system on a server maintained by the car-sharing company. If the system shows that the member has reserved that car, the computer unlocks the doors. Most car-sharing clubs ask drivers to leave the keys in a designated place within the car. The keys can be left inside because the computer also controls an ignition-system lock. When the driver exits the car and uses the RFID tag to lock its doors, the ignition system becomes disabled as well. Thus, even if a thief were to force his way into a locked vehicle, he could not start it with the key inside. When the doors are unlocked with the RFID tag, so is the ignition. Some clubs request that members store the key inside the car's glove compartment, which automatically locks and which can be opened only by entering a personal ID number into a keypad inside the car.

eCall

After an accident, a simple eCall system automatically sends the location data of the vehicle to the emergency services

However with identification technology it could also be possible to transfer more accurate data like for example, the number of passengers, any pre-existing conditions or medical risk factors. The data received through the eCall system will allow emergency services to provide assistance to vehicle drivers and passengers more quickly, thus helping to save lives and to treat injuries rapidly. Estimates suggest that eCall could speed up emergency response times by 40% in urban areas and 50% in the countryside, and save up to 2500 lives a year. In addition to the road safety benefits, eCall will also have a significant impact on reducing the congestion caused by traffic accidents and on reducing secondary accidents caused by unsecured accident sites. Industry also benefits via the many companies that are involved in the delivery of technologies, components and services used in different aspects of eCall including in-vehicle systems, wireless data delivery, and public safety answering point systems. Moreover, it is expected that the in-vehicle equipment introduced by eCall could be used for additional added value services (such as the tracking of stolen cars).

Immobilizer

The conventional use of RFID in a car is clearly the immobiliser, while keyless entry systems are also identification products

Immobilizer systems are used to prevent anyone from starting the car without a special key. The key contains a RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chip in the head of the key. When the key is near the antenna loop around the ignition lock cylinder and the ignition switch is in the “on” position, the key will reflect an encrypted code to the key transponder ECU. The key transponder ECU checks to see if the key is registered as belonging to the car, then sends a message to the Control ECU.

Logistics

One of the oldest uses of RFID is in logistics, where an RFID tag can be used to identify a vehicle through the entire production process in real time – even through the paint shop, where barcodes cannot be used.

Tap and Pair

Tap and Pair offers an easy way to create clear, logical connections

For example, you want a Smartphone to connect to a car via a Bluetooth connection, in the past this required a relatively complex code entry process. With Tap & Pair, you can simply hold the NFC phone at a pre-defined position on the dashboard and Bluetooth pairing can be started. In this way, mobile telephony via SIM access profiles is just as easy as streaming music. After a very brief pairing time, the mobile phone simply has to be anywhere inside the car.

Toll payment

Clear vehicle identification is required when paying tolls, or at least a system to ensure that the toll has been paid appropriately

In past toll payment system were manual and drivers were using manual system using coin or cash by hand to cross the toll stations. Manual process were too slow and time consuming. However now days it seems manual toll deduction system were changed to automated system more and more based on RFID technologies.

Wireless Service Interface (MM)

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Wireless service interface

Service personnel can use a wireless service interface and an RFID reader or NFC phone to access the electronics inside a machine

From a purely technical point of view, this is a memory that has an RFID interface (e.g., as per ISO 15693) on one side and a microcontroller interface (in most cases I2C or SPI) on the other side. With an RFID system, you know which specific vehicle has pulled onto your lot. It's far better than magnetic stripe cards that can be used by anyone. Each vehicle can have its own options, upgrades, special pricing or even block certain options via the profile settings for the vehicle's RFID tag. It's fantastically flexible making life easier for service teams and customers, providing the appropriate sales offerings.